THE FAILURE OF CHEMURGY IN THE DEPRESSION-ERA SOUTH: THE CASE OF JESSE F. JACKSON AND THE CENTRAL OF GEORGIA RAILROAD
Chemurgy advocates believed in raising crops for industrial rather than food purposes to help balance the economy. Jesse Frisbee became agricultural agent of the Central Georgia Railroad in 1911 with the goal of developing more agricultural traffic on railroad by working with the farmers who lived along its route. He especially encouraged production of sweet potatoes for starch and livestock feed, but supportred other chemurgic projects as well. Chemurgy in Georgia failed for a number of reasons, including the deaths of its foremost supporters, a lack of research funds, conflict with New Deal programs to reduce farming acreage, and the outbreak of World War II, which changed agricultural priorities.